General strike fights wage cuts, privatizations

Workers World, 21 December 1995

On Dec. 6, workers in Uruguay's banks, schools and public-
transit system walked out to protest plans for wage cuts and
selling off state-owned industries. An official at the state
Banco de la Republica Uruguay told Reuter: "There is zero
activity in the banking an financial system. It feels like a
public holiday." Only the bare bones of service were kept up
in transit, while health workers treated only emergencies.

The PIT-CNT trade union federation called the 24-hour
strike as Congress debated a new austerity budget presented
by the Julio Sanguinetti administration.